Battle of Vromopigada
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Vromopigada was fought between the Ottoman Turks and the Maniots
of Mani
in 1770. The location of the battle was in a plain between the two towns of Skoutari and Parasyros
. The battle ended in a Greek victory.
defeat to the Ottoman Empire
in the Turkish-Venetian War (1714-1718), the Peloponnese once again returned to Ottoman hands. However, the autonomous Mani
, who had refused to accept Ottoman sovereignty in the first Ottoman occupation of the Peloponnese once again refused to accept the Ottoman yoke. The Maniots
through an agent they had in Russia
began conspiring with Catherine the Great and Count Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov. In 1770, terms were agreed and a Russian fleet
sailed into the Aegean Sea
and landing in Mani en rout destroying an Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Chesma
.
After initial success, the Orlov Revolt
ended in failure. Arguments between Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov, the Russia
n leader and John the Canine, the Maniot leader led to the separation of the armies. John's army suffered a devastating defeat at Rizomilo in Messenia
against the Ottoman army with only John surviving. Meanwhile, the Russian army having made no long term gains retreated. The Ottomans had, meanwhile, unleashed a horde of Turko-Albanians, on Greece
. They pillaged their way through Attica
before attacking the Peloponnese
where they massacred Greek civilians.
They launched several incursions into Mani but they were all beaten back with heavy casualties. This string of defeat aggravated the Ottoman Pasha
in the Peloponnese, Hatzi Osman and he mustered an army of 16,000 men and invaded Mani. He was held back for twelve days at Kastania
but after capturing the towers he advanced down the coast to Skoutari, where he was once again delayed by a tower. This tower was garrisoned by fifteen men who held back the Ottoman army for three days until the tower as undermined and blown up.
Three old men, two priests and a layman volunteered and went to the Turkish camp. When they reached the camp, they went to the pasha and without bow they asked him what they wanted from the poor and free Maniots. The pasha demanded that the Maniots give ...ten captains' children as hostages. All your guns and every year a poll tax for your head because you attacked against the Sultan
with the Russians, our enemies. The Maniot envoys replied: We prefer to die than give you our guns and freedom. We don't pay taxes because our land is poor. Hatzi, infuriated by their answer, had them decapitated and mutilated before planting their heads on stakes.
When the Maniots saw the fate of their envoys they decided how to defeat the Ottomans. During the night, a force of 1,500 Maniots outflanked the Ottoman positions and approached from the Turkish rear. Meanwhile, the main Maniot force attacked the Ottomans as they slept. The Ottomans, surprised by this night attack started to flee but where cut off by the Maniots at their rear. The remaining Turks managed to retreat to Mystras
.
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
of Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
in 1770. The location of the battle was in a plain between the two towns of Skoutari and Parasyros
Parasyros
Parasyros is a town in Mani, Laconia, Greece. Paraasyros is part of the community of Skoutari within the municipal unit of Gytheio. Parasyros is located SE of Areopoli, N of Gerolimenas and S of Gythio...
. The battle ended in a Greek victory.
Prelude
Following the VenetianRepublic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
defeat to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the Turkish-Venetian War (1714-1718), the Peloponnese once again returned to Ottoman hands. However, the autonomous Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
, who had refused to accept Ottoman sovereignty in the first Ottoman occupation of the Peloponnese once again refused to accept the Ottoman yoke. The Maniots
Maniots
The Maniots or Maniates are the Greek inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula located in the southern Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia and prefecture of Messinia. They were also formerly known as Mainotes and the peninsula as Maina. The Maniots are the direct descendants of the Spartans...
through an agent they had in Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
began conspiring with Catherine the Great and Count Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov. In 1770, terms were agreed and a Russian fleet
Naval fleet
A fleet, or naval fleet, is a large formation of warships, and the largest formation in any navy. A fleet at sea is the direct equivalent of an army on land....
sailed into the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
and landing in Mani en rout destroying an Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Chesma
Battle of Chesma
The naval Battle of Chesma took place on 5 -7 July 1770 near and in Çeşme Bay, in the area between the western tip of Anatolia and the island of Chios, which was the site of a number of past naval battles between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice...
.
After initial success, the Orlov Revolt
Orlov Revolt
The Orlov Revolt was a precursor to the Greek War of Independence , which saw a Greek uprising in the Peloponnese at the instigation of Count Orlov, commander of the Russian Naval Forces of the Russo-Turkish War...
ended in failure. Arguments between Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov, the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n leader and John the Canine, the Maniot leader led to the separation of the armies. John's army suffered a devastating defeat at Rizomilo in Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
against the Ottoman army with only John surviving. Meanwhile, the Russian army having made no long term gains retreated. The Ottomans had, meanwhile, unleashed a horde of Turko-Albanians, on Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. They pillaged their way through Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
before attacking the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
where they massacred Greek civilians.
They launched several incursions into Mani but they were all beaten back with heavy casualties. This string of defeat aggravated the Ottoman Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
in the Peloponnese, Hatzi Osman and he mustered an army of 16,000 men and invaded Mani. He was held back for twelve days at Kastania
Siege of Kastania
The Siege of Kastania was fought in 1770 between the Maniots and the klephts under Kostantinos Kolokotronis and Panagiotaros Venetsakis and the Ottoman Empire under Ali Bey.-Prelude:...
but after capturing the towers he advanced down the coast to Skoutari, where he was once again delayed by a tower. This tower was garrisoned by fifteen men who held back the Ottoman army for three days until the tower as undermined and blown up.
Battle
Meanwhile, a Maniot force consisting of 3,000 men and 2,000 women under the command of Exarchos Grigorakis and his nephew Zanet Grigorakis had mustered in the hills above the town of Parasyros, which were known as Trikefali, and had fortified themselves. Hatzi, meanwhile, had advanced with his army to Agio Pigada (a plain that lay between Parasyros and Skoutari) and from there sent envoys demanding the surrender of the Maniots. However, the Maniots were hesitant in sending envoys back because if the answer was negative, Hatzi would have the envoys executed.Three old men, two priests and a layman volunteered and went to the Turkish camp. When they reached the camp, they went to the pasha and without bow they asked him what they wanted from the poor and free Maniots. The pasha demanded that the Maniots give ...ten captains' children as hostages. All your guns and every year a poll tax for your head because you attacked against the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
with the Russians, our enemies. The Maniot envoys replied: We prefer to die than give you our guns and freedom. We don't pay taxes because our land is poor. Hatzi, infuriated by their answer, had them decapitated and mutilated before planting their heads on stakes.
When the Maniots saw the fate of their envoys they decided how to defeat the Ottomans. During the night, a force of 1,500 Maniots outflanked the Ottoman positions and approached from the Turkish rear. Meanwhile, the main Maniot force attacked the Ottomans as they slept. The Ottomans, surprised by this night attack started to flee but where cut off by the Maniots at their rear. The remaining Turks managed to retreat to Mystras
Mystras
Mystras is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sparti, of which it is a municipal unit. Situated on Mt...
.
Sources
- Peter Greenhalgh and Edward Eliopoulos. Deep into Mani: Journey to the southern tip of Greece. London: Trinity Press, 1985. ISBN 0-571-13524-2
- Kyriakos Kassis. Mani's History. Athens: Presoft, 1979.